Marco Barbarigo

Marco Barbarigo (c. 1413-August 1486) was the Doge of Venice from 1485 until 1486, and was one of the members of the House of Barbarigo.

Biography
Marco was born to the House of Barbarigo, a wealthy Italian-Venetian family, in the Republic of Venice. Although his brother Agostino Barbarigo was destined for greatness, Marco also left his mark on Venetian history. Marco Barbarigo was a tyrant since he was barely old enough to walk, having jewels and entire fleets of ships paid for by his family. His wife Carlotta used to be married to his bodyguard Dante Moro, heir to one of the most prestigious families in Venezia, but he stabbed Dante in the head with a spear when he found out that Dante put a hit on him for cheating with his wife. Dante survived and was kept as a slave of sorts as Marco's personal bodyguard.

Marco was contacted by Rodrigo Borgia during the 1470s, with Borgia inviting him to aid the Knights Templar. Marco would be able to take over Venice with Templar aid, but the Templars had ulterior motives in mind: they would have influence over Venezia as well. Marco, his cousin Emilio Barbarigo, and the Council of Ten member Carlo Grimaldi were the three major men in the plot to take over Venice in the "Venetian Conspiracy". He was the one who decided that Doge Giovanni Mocenigo needed to be killed, and he said that Grimaldi should poison him with arsenic. Rodrigo Borgia announced that Marco was to become doge after the murder.

Although Grimaldi was killed, the assassination was a success, and Doge Barbarigo remained in the Palazzo Ducale at all times. However, during Carnivale in August, he held the largest party of all, and people gained entry using golden masks. Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze, an enemy of the Templars, pickpocketed the mask off Dante Moro, who was distracted by prostitutes, and he was able to infiltrate the festival.

Death
Using the pickpocketed mask, Ezio heard from Sister Teodora that Marco was preparing to make a speech on his boat. As Ezio entered the party, he noticed Dante Moro and some guards arrive, looking for him. Ezio blended in until the search subsided after one minute, and he heard an announcer presenting the beloved Doge of Venezia. Marco greeted his people, and said that at times of peace and war, prosperity and posterity, the Carnivale would always go on. Sister Teodora advised him to use his pistol, and Ezio shot him in the heart. Marco died on the deck, and the party crashed.